Ban on gatherings, lockdowns in border areas, shutting tourist spots: NATC

The National Technical Advisory Committee (NATC) to tackle the outbreak of coronavirus has urged for stricter steps, including area-wise lockdowns in border areas, to stop the Covid-19 spread from worsening. 

The recommendations were made in two meetings held on May 30 and May 31, presided over by Professor Mohammad Shahidullah, chairman of NATC, says a press release from the committee.

At the meeting, the border areas were identified as being more at-risk with higher rates of virus transmission. 

The meeting urged the help of public administration in ensuring strict adherence to the following instructions:

1. Ensure use of masks covering nose-mouth
2. Close dine-in options at restaurant (takeaways can continue)
3. Prohibit all kinds of social, political, religious gatherings
4. Close all tourists spots, recreational places

For border areas, the meeting called upon the administration concerned to:

1. Impose lockdown in border districts and areas with high transmission
2. Order people to stay at home except during emergencies
3. Stricter surveillance and increasing patrol to control illegal entries
4. Halt public transports from border districts as well as areas with high transmission

The meeting also called upon those concerned to ensure coordination of health department, police and public administration to curb the spread of Covid-19.

It further asked for stricter monitoring to ensure that the health guidelines were being followed. 

'BLACK FUNGUS NOT A NOVEL THING'

Regarding the Black Fungus, the NATC said that it was not a novel thing. It said that steroids used for treating Covid-19 could decrease immunity and increase the rate of diabetes. In turn, unchecked diabetes could decrease immunity and thus help the spread of black fungus. 

Taking black fungus into consideration, the NATC recommended:

1.    Inclusion of treating the fungus in Covid-19 treatment guideline
2.    Storing necessary medicine
3.    Logical use of steroids.

It also said that in the future industrial oxygen might be needed for treating Covid-19 and therefore recommended to prepare a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for using industrial oxygen.